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WHAT IS THE "FALLING INTO AUTUMN JAM"?
As we head into the season of harvest and coziness, we want to dance with you at the “Falling into Autumn” annual weekend jam! Oct 9 -12, 2026 at the National Ballet School in Toronto (400 Jarvis Street, Toronto) with one off-site film screen at the Review Cinema (400 Roncesvalles, Avenue, Toronto)
We’re creating a weekend of dancing, connection, and care—centered on trust, open communication, and being in space together. This jam is access-focused and intentionally welcoming, with efforts to remove barriers so more folks can join us.
Contact improvisation is not codified—everyone brings their own style. We celebrate dancers of all experience levels, identities, and body types. Your presence, your body, and your lived experience are what will make this jam!
Whatever your style, we offer options to support you: technique classes with local and traveling teachers, guided jams and open jams for unstructured exploration.
This year our intensive teacher are:
Inspired by the season, we’re making the space cozy with cushions and mats in the studios for when you want to rest while staying in the room. We even have an CI elder story time followed by and adult nap time. You do not need a nap then go across the hall to a technique class! We also have a cozy movie night! At lunch times we’ll share a catered meal. There are two film screenings of contact dance films from around the world, including local submissions. We hope we have made a schedule with time to breathe, dance, and truly get to know each other.
We hope you’ll finish this weekend feeling a sense of collaboration and togetherness with your fellow dancers, and a sense of excitement and inspiration and new learning for your own dancing.
ORGANISERS:
Sarah Jones
Kathleen Rea
Jayeden Walker
SCHEDULE:
Link to Schedule
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1buhbkR3cg1l3-Xrp74nWkYmLQDSys9-c/view?usp=sharing
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS:
Link to workshop description
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1u34Q3VQq-N1smxa4KylRvx7RsLI4gbuW/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=106312167642014794463&rtpof=true&sd=true
TEACHERS:
Link to see list of Biographies
https://docs.google.com/document/d/16jIVwIaywHfzFJitZxxJHh3zgbQB8Nfa/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=106312167642014794463&rtpof=true&sd=true
TRAILERS:
Check back soon.
MUSICIAN IN RESIDENCE:
Hi, it's Lalaina - pronounced : [lɑlɑiɲ] - I'm a french-malagasy musician based in Montréal since 2020, after my music student years, I worked as an interpret, composer and teacher in a wide range of communities, from movies to shows and with choreographers. These days I am deeply looking back at the music of my ancestor lineage to find the bridge between the often hegemonic way of the western music and the global diaspora way of practice.
As a musician and a dancer, a way to connect the sound and the movement is always in the back of my mind, as I noticed music can be an overwhelming presence as well as an ally in the movement. We try to to go for the later. I don't mean surrendering to the music is bad, I just want to have option. In this quest, whales, bats and blind people really showed me the way. Deep listening as a way to tune in to our environment and our own bodies to make us safer, clearer, more mindful. With the use of small repetitive motif and waves of improvisation and vice-versa, we will make a map of this journey together.
MEALS
Saturday and Sunday lunches are catered with vegan food with a meat option for those that need.
Monday there is no catered lunch as we end at 1:30
On Saturday night, and Sunday night dinner is out at your own cost. There are many affordable option around that location.
* Please note all passes bought after Monday October 1, 2025 it will NOT include the catered meals as we will have already given our number to the caterer.
DATES AND TIMES:
400 Roncesvalles Avenue, Toronto
Friday October 9, 2026 Film Screening
at the Revue Cinema - 8:00 pm
400 Jarvis Street, Toronto
Saturday, October 10, 2026 - 10:00 am to 10:00 pm
Sunday, October 11, 2026 - 10:00 am to 10:00 pm
Monday, October 12, 2026 - 10:00 am to 1:30 pm
LOCATION:
Celia Franca Centre, 400 Jarvis St, Toronto, ON M4Y 2G6, Canada (wheelchair accessible and barrier-free)
RATES
Full festival Passes:
$165 - Very Early Early Bird Festival Pass (Paying by July 1)
* includes the two catered meals
$205 - Early Early Bird Festival Pass (Paying after August 1)
* includes the two catered meals
$245 - Early Bird Festival Pass (Paying by Sept 1)
* includes the two catered meals
$285 - Festival Pass (Paying by October 1)
* includes the two catered meals
$285 - Late-bird Full Festival Pass (Paying after October 3)
* does NOT include catered meals
Can't come to the whole festival. Here are your options:
$20 - Friday Night Film Screening
$125 - One Full day Saturday
Please note there are no Sunday full day passes due to intensives needing continuity
$40 - Saturday Night Dance Jam
$10 - EVERY BODY Saturday Afternoon Dance Jam
$10 - IBPOC Sunday Afternoon Dance Jam
$40 - Double Package Sunday Night Film Screening and Dance Jam
Want to take just one of our morning intensives?
$150 - One intensive (pick between Monika or Suzanne or Milan/Kathleen when you register)
SCHOLARSHIPS:
No one gets turned away due to a lack of funds.
Contact kathleenrea@reasondetre.com if you need more support than the above scale affords and we will give you a discount code to purchase a pass.
BILLETING
Send requests to
kathleen.rea@reasondetre.com
ACCESS:
Celia Franca Center is a barrier-free, wheelchair-accessible space. Wellesley is the closest subway station with an elevator. If you have accessibility questions or want to discuss accommodation that you may need, please get in touch with kathleen.rea@reasondetre.com
JAM GUIDELINES:
All participants read at the point of purchase:
Written Copy
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VvM85pJ_2gE58dANWztFLy5N4KoAZ49U/view?usp=drive_link
Video Version:
All beginners to contact improvisation please read:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fkmC2yTfJUUDSEIVls5UtqC0Ke1F_A3C/view?usp=sharing
QUESTIONS:
Please send questions to kathleen.rea@reasondetre.com
ILLNESS PREVENTION POLICY:
- Masking is by choice (about 5% to 10% of participants tend to wear masks)
- Please do not attend if you are sick
- Please cover any skin sores with a medical-grade band aid.
REFUND POLICY:
Refunds with two-week notice will be minus a $25 admin fee.
Refunds with less than two-week notice will be minus a $40 admin fee (we will have already paid for your catered meal)
REASON D'ETRE DANCE IS SUPPORTED BY:
The Toronto Arts Council
Ontario Arts Council (through the Ontario Government)
Canadian Heritage Foundation
Some of the equipment was funded through an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant.
PRODUCED BY:
REAson d’etre dance (RDD) www.reasondetre.com
Dance Jam Guidelines
